Archer&#39;s bow



Oct. 7, 1958 R, Q. EBEBACH 2,854,965

ARCHERS BOW Filed 0G13. 17, 1955 INVENTUR. @055W Q me/:cu

ARCHERS BOW vRobert O. Eberbach, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Application October 17, 1955, Serial No. 540,976

7 Claims. (Cl. 124-23) This invention relates to an archers bow and refers more particularly to a handle for supporting the bow and means for connecting the handle to the bow.

In the use of a bow, a rather substantial force is eX- erted in drawing the bow string. Even among experienced archers whose hands and wrists are conditioned ited States Patent O for holding the bow, the release of the bow string to propel the arrow imparts a shock of such magnitude to the hand holding the bow that it is practically impossible to hold the bow perfectly steady and eliminate all tendency towards dellection. It is of course essential that the bow be held as steady as possible until the arrow has cleared the bow. Any slight movement of the wrist upon release of the bow string will greatly magnify the error in the course of the arrow since the rear end of the arrow is guided by the bow string which is a considerable distance to the rear of the bow when drawn.

One object of this invention is to provide a handle for a bow and means for connecting the handle thereto which will overcome the diiiculties described above.

Another object of the invention is to provide a handle for holding the bow which is connected thereto in a manner to permit the handle to rotate relative to the bow substantially about the axis of the bow.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a connection between the handle `and bow permitting the handle to turn relative to the bow about an axis extending perpendicular to the axis of the bow and laterally thereof.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view of an archers bow embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevational view of the bow shown in Figure l, partly in section, and showing the means for connecting the handle to the bow; vand Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the archers bow there illustrated comprises an elongated flexible member 10 having the end portions 12 curved rearwardly, or to the right as viewed in Figure l. The ends of the bow have secured thereto the opposite ends of the bow string 14. The elongated bow member 10 is formed of any suitable tlexible material permitting flexure thereof in a forward and rearward direction; that is, to the left and right as viewed in Figure l. In this connection it will be understood that the elongated member throughout its entire length lies in a single plane.

Projecting laterally outwardly from one side of the bow member 10 is a pin 16 having `a recess 18 in the top side adjacent to the bow member for supporting the shaft of an arrow.

The handle which the archer will grasp and by means of which he will support the bow for use in shooting an 2,854,965 Patented Oct. 7, 1958 arrow comprises a tubular member 20 which surrounds the elongated bow member 10 intermediate the ends of the latter.

The structure for connecting the tubular handle member 20 to the bow member will now be described. Referring particularly to Figures 2 and 3, it will be noted that the bow member 10 has a .central reduced portion 21 formed with a through passage 22 midway between the ends of the bow member which extends laterally or from side to side of the bow membervperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bow member and also perpendicular to the plane of the bow member. A pin 24 is supported in the passage 22 for rotation, and the opposite ends of the passage are counterbored to receive needle bearings 26 which are disposed in a circular array about opposite end portions of the pin to support the latter in the passage for substantially free rotation.

The opposite end extremities of the pin extend laterally beyond the bow member 10 and support a sleeve 28 which loosely surrounds the bow member. Specically, the sleeve is bored diametrically opposite points for receiving the end extremities of the pin, and set screws 30 are employed to provide a rigid connection between the pin and the sleeve. The `sleeve has a lower portion 32 of reduced outside diameter, the outer cylindrical surface 34 of which provides a bearing surface or race for needle bearings described hereinafter.

The tubular handle member 20 surrounds the sleeve 28 in spaced relation thereto and has an annular member 36 secured to the inner surface of the integral annular rib 37 on handle 20 by set screws 38. The annular member 36 has an annular groove 40 in its inner surface, the base of which defines a cylindrical surface providing a bearing race complementary to the race 34. The inside diameter of the member 36 is only slightly greater than the outside diameter of the cylindrical surface 34 of the sleeve permitting it to be slipped over suchcylindrical surface in the assembled'relationship illustrated. A retaining ring 42 is threaded on the lower end of the sleeve 28 and is locked in position by a set screw 44 to retain the member 36 in assembled relation with the sleeve 28. A plurality of needle bearings 46 are located within the groove 40 of the annular member 36 and bear against the surface 34 of sleeve 28 and the base of groove 40 in annular member 36 t-o permit substantially frictionless relative rotation between the handle member 20 and the sleeve 28.

The shoulder 48 defining the junction between the lower portion of the sleeve 28 of reduced outside diameter and the upper portion thereof has a downwardly facing annular groove in which are located a plurality of ball bearings 50. These ball bearings are retained in the groove by the upper end of the annular member 36. The bearings 50 support all of the weight of the bow on the handle when held in the upright position illustrated, and at the same time substantially all friction between the handle and the sleeve is eliminated.

Washers 52 are supported on pin 24 between the bow member 10 and the sleeve 28 to prevent axial movement of the pin relative to the bow member.

In accordance with the construction illustrated, the handle member 20 may rotate about the axis of pin 24, within limits, without disturbing the bow member. The ends of the handle will engage the bow to limit this rotation. Also, handle 20 may rotate about its own axis which substantially coincides with that of the bow member due to the limited relative rotation permitted by pin 24. Accordingly, such movements of the handle, which are almost impossible to eliminate when the bow string is released to propel an arrow, will not disurb the position of the bow. It is possible that the hand holding the handle, and hence the handle, will twist about an axis extending in a front and rear direction transversely through the bow; that is, a direction perpendicular to the pin 24. Such deflection will of course be transmitted to the bow but movement about this axis substantially parallels the normal position-of the shaft of the arrow and t hence will not materially influence the course of, the

arrow.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description of the improved archers bow in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which is. indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. In a device of the character described, an archers bow in the form of an elongated flexible member having rearwardly offset end portions adapted to support the ends of a bow string extending therebetween, said elongated member having a laterally extending through passage perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said elongated member and located intermediate the ends thereof, a pin extending through said passage and having its ends projecting laterally beyond said member, anti-friction means supporting said pin for axial rotation in said passage, a sleeve surrounding said elongated member secured to the ends of said pin, said sleeve presenting a radially outwardly facing annular bearing race, a handle comprising.

a tubular member surrounding said sleeve and having means presenting a radially inwardly facing annular bearing race complementary to the first mentioned bearing race, and anti-friction elements interposed between said races to enable free rotation of said tubular member on said sleeve, said tubular member providing a means by which said elongated member can be supported for use in shooting an arrow.

2. A device as dened in claim l having means for holding said pin against axial shifting relative to said elongated member.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 having a thrust bearing between said tubular member and said sleeve opposing relative axial movement thereof and enabling said 40 elongated member to be held upright by said tubular member without appreciable friction between said tubular member and sleeve.

4, In a device of the character described, an archers bow in the form of a one-piece elongated exible member having rearwardly offset end portions adapted to support the ends of a bow string extending therebetween, a handle comprising a tubular member loosely surrounding said elongated member intermediate the ends of the latter by means of which said elongated member can be supported for use in shooting an arrow, said tubular member being of a length to enable it to be comfortably gripped in the hand, and means for connecting said tubular member to said elongated member for rotation of said tubular member about its axis and for rocking movement of said tubular member about an axis extending laterally of said elongated member and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof.

5. In a device of the character described, an elongated flexible archers bow having rearwardly oset end portions adapted to support the ends of a bow string extending therebetween, a sleeve member loosely surrounding said bow and pivotally connected thereto for rocking movement about an axis extending laterally of said bow and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof, a handle comprising a tubular member by means of which said bow can be supported for use in shooting an arrow, said tubular member being of a length enabling it to be comfortably gripped in the hand, said tubular member surrounding said sleeve in coaxial relation therewith, and anti-friction means between said tubular member and sleeve enabling free rotation of said tubular member about its axis relative to said sleeve.

6. A device as defined in claim 5 in which said bow is of one-piece construction.

7. A device as defined in claim 6 in which the limit of rocking movement of said sleeve member about said firstmentioned axis is determined by the engagement of the ends of one of said members with said bow.

References Citedin the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 224,043 Robinson Feb. 3, 1880 2,001,470 Nyvall May 14, 1935 2,699,334 Pettit Jan. 1l, 1955 

